Disclaimer: You know, I wish I knew Remus, Fred, and George, that would be so wicked awesome. Unfortunately though, they're fictional characters that belong to J.K. Yes, I own nothing.
Author's Note: I'm bored. I would like to thank those of you that reviewed and remind some of you of that little button down there, saying Go. Push the button; it's a very nice button (most of the time).
Chapter Four
In Potions a few days later, Harry and Ron were working together on a class assignment, and seeing as Hermione was a good distance away, Harry decided to ask, "Ron, why were you so calm when Hermione told us about Lupin? You can't honestly approve of it."
Ron just shrugged and continued to stir the vile looking concoction. "Of course I don't, I just realized that you were right, there's no way Lupin's going to look at her, so why bother? If I keep my mouth shut, she'll continue to help me."
"You actually used your brain of yours, mate. I'm proud of you," Harry teased.
Ron glowered, and replied, "Now if only you would do the same thing."
The two continued to argue as they worked, not paying attention as Malfoy, who was sitting behind them, whispered a spell and then silently yelled into his wand's point. They did notice, however, when Hermione let out a long, painful wail, nearly frightening Neville, her partner, half out of his wits.
Every pair of eyes was on the young girl as Professor Snape snuck up behind her to say, "Twenty points from Gryffindor for disturbing the class, Miss Granger." Then with a sneer, he added, "And please hold your howling for the moon."
The Slytherin students snickered, and it took all of Hermione's will power not to growl and attack the professor. Instead she simply turned her attention back to the potion, just in time to prevent it from burning. The class went back to normal, though a few minutes later, a small blonde boy snuck in.
He tried to get to Hermione, but was cut off by Professor Snape. "Why are you here, Mr. Bing?"
"I-I've g-got a-a note f-for Miss-s G-Granger," the poor boy stuttered, holding up the piece of paper as proof.
Snape snatched it from his hand, read it, tore it up, and then proceeded to say, "It wasn't anything but rudeness and a desire to distract the class. And tell that old hound to quit sending students to my class."
The boy looked unsure, but left after one more evil look from Snape. Addressing the entire class, Snape commanded, "Back to work, all of you. I don't want to hear anything from the lot of you until class is over."
Ron and Harry risked a glance at Hermione, who was noticeably fuming. They gently shook their head, silently hoping that Hermione wouldn't do anything rash and stubborn, costing them any more house points. Luckily, she just bit her tongue and went back to work.
As soon as they were out the dungeons though, they got an earful. "Who does he think he is? That note was meant for me, practically my mail, it's illegal to read someone else's mail. I don't even know whom it was from," the girl let out.
Ron answered, "It was from Professor Lupin, and he was asking what happened and if you were all right."
"How do you know that?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
"Easy, he sent Tommy Bing with the note. That was the same kid he sent to fetch us when you were…hurt. With Snape's answer we know he was asking what happened and knowing Remus, he probably asked how you were," Harry explained.
"Well, that was thoughtful," Hermione commented.
Ron and Harry shared a look but said nothing; they were used to this Hermione by now. One minute she was as bitter as burnt chocolate, the next as sweet as honey, just like they had grown accustomed to Professor Lupin talking to them more, and making sure that Hermione ate enough at meals, although she still seemed to have lost some weight.
The boys waited until they were on the ground floor before Ron asked, "Hey, Mione, can we have a ride?"
"Do I look like a horse?" she retorted.
"We didn't mean like that, Hermione," Harry answered. "What Ron meant to say is, would you please pull us towards the staircase? Like you did before? Please?"
"Why do you like me pulling you two so much?"
The pair shrugged. "We don't really know. It's just fun and it means we don't have to walk," Ron replied.
"You two are a couple of lazy gits, but all right," she relented. She turned around so that her back was facing the boys and said, "Grab my waist, and no funny business, Mr. Potter. Ready?"
"Yes," Ron and Harry answered. Hermione started walking again, though not before placing a slipping spell on the boys' shoes.
Anyone walking by looking at the trio strangely, for it was quite a sight to see, one small girl pulling two fully grown boys behind her. Finally, Hermione got tired of it and decided to pull a prank on her mates. She sped up to a full run, and then lashed out, effectively dislodging the boys and making them spin out of control on the cool floor.
They crashed into a wall, landing in a pile of arms, legs, and books. Harry was the first to respond, looking up and saying, "Not funny, Hermione Granger, not funny in the least."
Hermione laughed, "I thought it was very funny. Maybe that will teach you not to make your mates act like sled dogs. Now get up, don't want to be late for our next class after all, it's Transfiguration."
Transfiguration started off better than Potions, although there was still a bit of a disturbance. As soon as Professor McGonagall announced that they would be working on human transformation, there was a loud shout of laughter, making it even more obvious to Hermione that all the Slytherins knew about her little condition. Ron and Harry smiled though, trying to make her feel better.
"Now we will cover full body transformations, though that won't be for a while yet, and make no mistake, I am not teaching you to become Animagi. These transformations will not be based on will but instead a complex spell and then change will only be temporary," McGonagall informed her students.
"Some of us don't need to be an Animagus to transform into an animal," Pansy Parkinson snickered.
"Miss Parkinson, please refrain from speaking out of turn in my class, twenty-five points from Slytherin. Now, everyone please spread out, it would be best if we were to have some room for this."
Professor McGonagall explained the spell and then demonstrated the complicated enchantment, changing her hand into a cat's paw. The class then broke up to try it on themselves. Neville only succeeded in turning his hand into a pot, which Professor McGonagall had to fix quickly. Harry actually did it correctly on his first try, successfully changing his hand into a tip of a wing. Hermione and Ron, however, seemed to be having more difficulties.
"Come on, you stupid thing, change already," Ron ordered his hand. Then he let out a scream of terror, "Come back, come back, I'm missing my hand."
Harry shook his head and hit Ron in the head. "You prat, you still have your hand, it just got smaller. Looks kinda like a weasel's paw."
Ron, noticing that this was indeed true, rubbed his hand and whispered, "Oh, good hand, good hand. Don't ever do that to me again."
"I think Ron's finally gone off the deep end," Harry whispered to Hermione.
"Was he ever in the sane end?" she giggled. Then turning back to her work, she was finally able to transfigure her hand, changing it into a wolf's paw. Suddenly, memories of that night flashed back to her. A creature, big and powerful, was chasing her, and she run into a tree root, tumbling until she ran into a rock. Something faint cutting into her leg bringing a distant pain before everything was black.
Someone was shaking her, Hermione broke out of her reverie, forgetting about the class and swinging her hand. The left paw cut into Harry's shoulder as he stood in front of her, his concerned expression turning to one of pain. Hermione backed up, seeing the blood seeping through her mate's torn clothing. Her voice was hoarse as she called out, "Professor! Professor! Come quick! Harry's hurt!"
McGonagall was there in an instant. Taking out her wand as she saw Harry's wand. While she healed the wound, the professor asked, "What in the name of Merlin happened?"
"It was an accident, honestly, I didn't mean to. I was just …I forgot…Harry please forgive me," Hermione rambled.
The black-haired boy grimaced, but managed all the same to say, "I'm fine, Mione, it was nothing but an accident. No need to kill yourself over it, after all, I'm still alive. Ow, ow…don't worry, Mione."
Hermione's and Harry's hands had changed back by now, the spell only being temporary, and Harry grabbed Hermione's hand, half out of desperation to keep her from running away and crying those tears he could obviously see in her eyes, half because he wanted something to hold on to until McGonagall was done. She offered him a sad face with a weak smile but didn't move from her position.
He squeezed her hand as the pain finally subsided, saying, "See, that wasn't so bad. Now wipe away your tears, don't want Malfoy to see you crying, do you?"
Hermione shook her head and got rid of the offending articles. Professor McGonagall, turned to the class, who had by now gathered around the group to see the happening, and commanded, "Everyone, get back to your work at once." To Hermione and Harry, she said, "You two, come with me."
They were in the hallway, safely away from any wandering ears, before Harry stated, "It was nothing but an accident, Professor."
"I know that Mr. Potter, we're just lucky that she didn't hit your neck or else you might be dead right now," McGonagall replied. For some reason this didn't comfort Hermione. The professor continued, "I simply wish to know what happened."
Feeling stronger knowing that Harry was fine, Hermione answered, "When I saw my hand, it was a wolf's paw, and it brought back the night of my attack. I had just blacked out when Harry stepped in, I forgot about the class and just struck out."
Their teacher nodded. "Tell me, Miss Granger, how are you adapting?"
"Quite fine, I can be a bit moody at times, but I've spoken with Remus and he tells me that it is perfectly natural. I've finally mastered my senses as well," Hermione replied, then as an afterthought, she added to Harry, "Harry, you better be thankful that Ron isn't werewolf or you'd be dead ten times over by now."
Harry flushed and mumbled, "Yes, well, let's not tell him what I smell like then."
"As much as I hate to say it, Miss Granger, I have noticed that some students know about your condition. I have to ask when you are going to the ministry, they will not like that you've waited this long to register and might fine you if you wait any longer," Professor McGonagall resumed.
"Remus is taking Ron, Harry, and me to the ministry tomorrow."
"All of you are going?"
Harry nodded and ruffled Hermione's hair. "Course me and Ron are going, Professor, Hermione's like our sister, and we're not going to let her do that by herself. We have both Professor Dumbledore's and Professor Lupin's permission to come with her. Besides, this gives us a chance to boo ministry officials behind their actual back."
"Is that the only reason you're going?" Hermione grinned.
Harry nodded, but suddenly started shaking his head, saying, "Of course not, it's just an added bonus."
Hermione giggled but Professor McGonagall continued, "I am glad to hear that, Miss Granger. I want you talk with Professor Lupin about what happened in class today. Now, let us return to class."
